Display equipment



June 7, 1932. 1 RUWn-CH l 1,861,820

DISPLAY EQUIPMENT Filed Feb. 18, 1929 Patented `lune 7, 1932 UNITED ,STATES JULIUS RUWITCH, OF ll'l'OIBlV'AY, MICHIGAN DIsrLAY EQUIPMENT' Application filed February 1S, 1929'. Serial No. 340,778. Y

My invention relates to display equipment and more particularly to a novel device for displayingmattresses or the like articles.

It is the consistent practice in the trade where mattresses are displayed and sold to maintain a large area of the floor space for the purpose of displaying mattresses of various sizes and qualities. This practice results in a large waste of space, causes considerable dirt to be secreted within the mattresses, and after a short time the mattresses are virtually unfit for sale. This condition likewise causes considerable difficulty in properly displaying the mattresses upon a fiat surface and necessitates considerable shiftingfrom a ile.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide apparatus for supporting mattresses in a vertical position thus saving considerable door space and insuring a large degree of sanitation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for vertically supporting a pair of mattresses which permits a ready inspec- 25 tion of a large portion of the surface of the mattresses without the necessity for the use of any great amount of physical exertion by the demonstrator.

My invention will be more readily under- 30 stood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a device constructed substantially in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the supporting means showing two mattresses in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the supporting means for the mattresses, the mechanism being shown partly in section; and

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the clamping means for the mattresses.

By reference to the drawing it will be seen that I provide a cabinet l() having the horizontally disposed metal frame members 11 of any desired cross section, constituting the supporting frame for the device hereafter to be disclosed. Secured at suitable spaced intervals to the frame members 11 are the outwardly extending supporting arms 12 of hollow construction and provided with a longitudinally extending slot in the lower face thereof. Disposed within the arms 12 are therollers 13 containing the balls 13a A suitably disposed onbearings 14 adapted to travel the length of the arms 12.

As best shown in Fig. 3 I prefer to utilize a pair of rollers at each end within the arms 12 connected by the bar 15, the-lower portion y of which protrudes Abelowthe longitudinal opening in the arm 12. Ata point near the outer extremities of the connecting bar-15 I provide the depending arms 16 to wliichis secured the truss 17, comprising two parallel bars 18, 19 separated near the center thereof by the block 20.` The truss is secured at its extremities to the depending arms 1 6. Thus the truss 17, arms 16 and bar 15 constitutel the movable supportingca'rriage.

At the outer extremities of the truss 17 I T provide thecross arms 21, 22 preferably pass` ing through apertures'in the bars 16 and 18, 19, for supporting the clamping bars 23, 24.

.Fhe clamping bars may be preferably of common angle-iron and provided with a suitable aperture at the ends thereof for the admissionv of the cross arms 21 and 22. As

shown in Fig. 4 the front portion of each of the clamping bars 23 and 24 is bent outward as indicated at 25 and 26 for a purpose to be later described. Thumb screws 27 and 28 or other means may be provided on theV clamping bars to t-ightenthe bars to the cross 'arms 21 and 22 when the mattress is installed.

In practice the supporting arms 12 are extended a substantial distance out from the vinclosing cabinet so that where a plurality of mattresses are supported any desired pair of said mattresses may be readily pulled for- .90

the bars 23 and 24 pressing against the mattress. VBy providing the truss as shown the 4inner bar is. greatly'strengthened and a bet.-

ter clamping action is had. The truss also The truss 17 forms "g 'fes insures sufiicient strength in case one mattress is removed.

As shown in F ig. 4lthe outer portions 25 and 26 of the clamping bars 23 and 24 are bent slightly outward. This is for only a short length of the bar and towards the front and permits inspection of the full side of the mattresses for the whole length thereof and avoids pinching the mattresses in the edge, which very frequently is found to injure the binding. If desired thethumb screws 27 on t-he one side or the thumb screws 28 on the opposite side may be loosened and a single 'mattress removed from the carriage without disturbing the adjacent supported mat.- tress. f

The device as herein disclosed presents a `rigid construction and well adapted for the purpose disclosed. The mattresses are firmly held without material damage thereto in an upright and sanitary position available for ready inspection at all times with a minimum of physical exertion.

Modifications may be made in the construction herein illustrated and I do not wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Thev combination with a track and wheeled carriage, of, a vertical arm depending from the carriage, a horizontal support- .ing frame consisting of two oppositely bowed side pieces joined at their ends, the frame beingfixed lto the arm and of a length greater than the width of a mattress,cross pieces fixed inthe respective ends of the frame member, and bars adapted to slide on and be removably fixed to the cross pieces whereby two mattresses may be clamped and supported, one on each side of said arm. c

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a track and wheeled carriage, of a pair of depending supporting arms, a resilient truss member joining said arms and beingparallel to said carriage, a pair of cross armsjoined to the respective ends of said truss member, and clamping bars slidable on said cross arms, said clamping bars being substantially parallel in their effective positions on said cross arms.

3. In a display device adapted to support a pair of mattresses in side by side relation, the combination of a track and a wheeled carriage operable therein, a pair of depending supporting members positioned on and near the ends of said carriage, a resilient truss joining said members, said truss comprising a pair of strips joined at their extremities ands-eparated at the center, a pair of cross arms fixed to the ends of said truss and disposed at right angles thereto, and a pair of clamping bars, the ends of which are adjustably slidable on said cross arms, said clamping bars being substantially parallel in their final position of adjustment.

4. A mattress support and display device adapted to support a pair of mattresses in side by side relation, which comprises in combination a supported track having a continuous longitudinal slot in the bottom face thereof, a wheeled carriage adapted to travel in said track, a portion of said carriage projectingf through the slot in said track, a pair of depending arms fixed to the ends of said carriage, a resilient truss fixed to said arms, a pair ofA cross arms fixed to the ends of said truss and extending at right angles thereto, and a pair of clamping bars, said clamping bars beingadapted to be adjustably slidable on saidcross arms and to lie in substantial parallelism in their final position of adjustment.

In testimony'whereof I have afiixed my signature.

JULIUS RUWITCH; 

